Magento Sample data Installation: Table already exists

Question

I am trying to install Magento's sample data for a few days now and have tried numerous things but nothing seems to work.

I am using easyphp 5.3.3.1 on windows 7.

I downloaded the sample data files and ran the SQL to create tables for the sample data. After that I ran the Magento installation and right after it asks for database information I get the following error

Zend_Db_Statement_Exception Object
(
    [_previous:Zend_Exception:private] => 
    [message:protected] => SQLSTATE[42S01]: Base table or view already exists: 1050 Table 'admin_assert' already exists
[string:Exception:private] => 
    [code:protected] => 42
    [file:protected] => I:\EasyPHP-5.3.3.1\www\magento\magento\lib\Zend\Db\Statement\Pdo.php
    [line:protected] => 234
    [trace:Exception:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [file] => I:\EasyPHP-5.3.3.1\www\magento\magento\lib\Varien\Db\Statement\Pdo\Mysql.php
                    [line] => 110
                    [function] => _execute
                    [class] => Zend_Db_Statement_Pdo
                    [type] => ->
                    [args] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                )

                        )

                )

            [1] => Array
                (
                    [file] => I:\EasyPHP-5.3.3.1\www\magento\magento\lib\Zend\Db\Statement.php
                    [line] => 300
                    [function] => _execute
                    [class] => Varien_Db_Statement_Pdo_Mysql
                    [type] => ->
                    [args] => Array
                        (.......

and so on....

It just doesn't complete the installation. What could be causing this error?

Answer 1

You are aware that you are supposed to install the sample data BEFORE you install Magento? It looks like you are trying to install the data when Magento has already created some tables..

1) Empty the database.

2) Import the data into the database.

3) Install a fresh Magento

http://www.magentocommerce.com/knowledge-base/entry/installing-the-sample-data-for-magento